Patent GB-1237946-A (GB)
IPC: H01R41/00
Filed: 1968-12-09
Abstract: 1,237,946. Current collectors; conduits. K. REKERS. 9 Dec., 1968 [27 Dec., 1967; 27 May, 1968], No. 58370/68. Heading B7L. [Also in Division H2] A current supply arrangement for a mobile load device comprises a flexible collector line duct, with a supply conductor therein, and a pick-up device which slides in and is guided by the duct, the pick-up being connected mechanically and electrically to the load device through a flat metal plate which extends outside the duct through a slot in a wall of the duct. As shown (Fig. 1) the duct is of injectionmoulded synthetic material, and carries a flexible conductor 4, which is of larger diameter than the width of the slot 5. The pick-up device comprises a slide 3 with rounded ends to facilitate negotiation of bends. The conductive flat plate 6 rests in an insulator 12 which is joined by a chain 13 to the load device. A cable 14 makes a soldered electrical connection. The slide functions as a carrier for a wiper contact 16, e.g. of graphite, supported by a spring 15 having lateral convolutions. In a modification (Figs. 4 and 5, not shown) the supply conductor may have a serpentine shape, the peaks of the convolutions (18<SP>1</SP>) being located in grooves (19) in the duct. The conductor may also be a flat strip (21) (Fig. 8, not shown) which may be split into two (25) and angled (26) (Figs. 6 and 7, respectively, not shown), or a profiled liner (22) (Fig. 9, not shown). The slide may itself act as a wiper contact (Figs. 6 and 7, not shown). In a further embodiment, the duct 30 is rectangular in cross-section (Fig. 14, which shows four attached ducts) and has assembly lips 31, 32 and a mounting rail comprising angled sections 33, 34, both the lips and rail extending along the length of the duct. Guide lips 36 form the slot edges. Several ducts 30 are held together by clamping strips 41, whose flanges 42 and lips 43 interfit with the lips 31 and 32 on the duct. The strips 41 may extend completely or partially along the length of the duct. The pick-up (44) (Fig. 11, not shown) for this embodiment may be of carbon, be mounted in brass (51) and be supported, e.g. by soldering, to a serpentine spring (45) which itself is attached to a plate (46) shaped like a sledgerunner. The plate-supporting insulator (48) may be in two half-sections. At its ends, or other suitable point, the current conductor 37 opens into a junction box 65 which comprises half-sections 66, 67 having arcuate passages (69) therein (Fig. 15, not shown) which house a feeder line 64. The feeder line 64 enters the duct at an opening 71, e.g. of triangular shape, which is covered by the clamping strips 41, which are themselves secured by tongues 72 bearing on them. Longitudinal mechanical connection pieces (75) (Fig. 19, not shown) firmly secure the junctions and accurate alignment of abutting duct sections. A further duct, which carries supply conductor and which contains small slots (78) at intervals, above the level of the conductor 37, the slots receiving contact lugs inserted from outside, through which pulses may be fed to transmit instructions concerning speed &c. to the pickup device (Figs. 20 and 21, not shown) may be attached to the others. A cover strip (81) may be provided with locking flanges (83), to allow mounting behind the lips 31, 32 on the duct, and a rib (84), which engages behind the contact lugs and holds them in position. In any of the embodiments, the single-pole conductors of two or more ducts may be connected in parallel to provide a multi-pole supply.